Harely Saito vs Shinobu Kandori - JWP 19/07/1990
Had a hard time actually sitting down to watch this. Always had to do something when I planned to sit down and watch this, and an hour later, I can say that it was worth waiting. This was pretty great. This was a great hybrid of shoot style and pro-style. The early mat-work was awesome. The struggle just to get Kandori into a neck bridging position by Saito was incredible. Everything was contested and very uncooperative in a compelling way. Saito was great from working beneath, having to come up with different ways to defend herself against Kandori’s submissions and stiff strikes. The finishing stretch with all the nearfalls was really well done, too. Saito got some great nearfalls, even getting a pin at one point but the ref said Kandori got her shoulder up (I don’t think she did) but she ultimately fell to Kandori. ****1/4
IWA World Title Match: Kyoko Inoue (c) vs. Manami Toyota - AJW Wrestlemarinepiad 1992 25/04/1992
There was a really good story in this - Kyoko’s strength and submissions v Toyota’s speed and technique. And it was all played out at an incredible pace. Toyota would scramble away from Kyoko’s grasp, hitting drop kicks after dropkicks while Kyoko was constantly trying to lock on the crab hold. I think the match could’ve had more meat to it but it was effective for what it gave. ***1/2
WWWA World Title Match: Bull Nakano (c) vs. Aja Kong - AJW Wrestlemarinepiad 1992 25/04/1992
A long standing feud up-to this point. Aja Kong has shown that she can beat Nakano once before in a Cage match, but fell short the other two times, once via double DQ and the other taking the pin. This was a match of pure aura. That stare down was bone chilling. There were tons of hard strikes and stiff action. Tons of struggle and tons of fight. Aja Kong just wasn’t good on this day against Bull. She’s getting there though, little by little. ***3/4
WWWA Tag Team Title #1 Contendership Match: Las Cachorras Orientales (Akira Hokuto & Etsuko Mita) vs. Jungle Jack (Aja Kong & Bison Kimura) - AJW 24/05/1992
The War Paint came out for LCO against the formidable Jungle Jack. LCO had their chances when they isolated Bison Kimura and worked her over with double team moves and sly tactics like throwing her into the ropes, causing slight whiplash but they were underdogs working for the most part. Mita is by far the least established and definitely took the most offence out of anyone but she stepped up big in this and looked like she belonged. Hokuto was a killer with her kicks as well. The escalation for a more intense and fast paced finish was extremely well done and seamless. And it allowed for an overall thrilling experience. The nearfalls were really good and not overdone. I love how Aja Kong would backdrop someone and try and pin them that way, using her body weight. She’s done it once before so why not again? There was some sloppiness but nothing that detracted a whole lot. Awesome match. ****1/4
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